Canada

Canada Study Permit Processing for Bangladeshi Applicants

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

The steps from acceptance to decision

Here is the usual order for a student applying from Bangladesh. Your own checklist from IRCC may add or change steps. IRCC advises applying to a post-secondary school a year ahead, so the clock really starts long before you press submit.

• Get your letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
• Get your PAL or TAL through the school, if you need one.
• Collect your documents, scan them and create an IRCC secure account.
• Submit the application online and pay the fees: CAD 150 for the permit and CAD 85 for biometrics.
• Receive your biometrics letter and give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.
• Wait while IRCC reviews your file. It may ask for more documents, an interview, a medical exam or a police certificate.

What a decision looks like

If you are approved from outside Canada, you receive a port of entry letter of introduction. That letter is not your study permit. You show it to a border services officer when you arrive. IRCC also says you may need an eTA or a visitor visa to travel, so check that too. Travel with the passport you used to apply, because airline staff and border officers will ask to see your documents.

The Student Direct Stream, a faster route for some countries, ended on 8 November 2024. Everyone now applies through the regular stream, so older stories about very fast approvals do not describe today's process. If your school defers your start date, it must approve the deferral and issue an updated letter of acceptance, which you then send to IRCC.

Where to apply, and biometrics in Dhaka

From outside Canada you must apply online, unless you are exempt, for example because of a disability that prevents online applying. IRCC lists visa application centres (VACs) in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

VACs are private companies that work under contract with the Government of Canada. They collect biometrics, and they can help with services such as photocopies or courier. They do not make decisions, cannot give visa advice and do not represent the Government of Canada. Decisions are made by migration officers at IRCC offices. Send your passport only after you receive a request letter or email from IRCC.

Biometrics work like this. Most people aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photo, and it is generally needed only once every 10 years. Pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application, or you may face delays. After you receive your biometrics letter, you have 30 days to give your biometrics.

You must book an appointment at the VAC. Follow your letter for what to bring, and use the Bangladesh page linked from IRCC's centre list, not an unofficial booking page. IRCC says processing begins after it receives your biometrics, so book early.

How to check processing times without guessing

We do not quote a number here. Times change often, and a figure copied into an article can be wrong by the time you read it. Open the official tool yourself. Choose your application type, answer the follow-up questions such as the country you are applying from, enter the date you applied, and select get processing time.

Read the result with care. IRCC counts from the day it has your complete application until a decision, and the estimate includes biometrics. It is not a maximum or a promise, so your file may take longer. The page also shows historical times, which measure how long it took to process 80 percent of past applications. IRCC says calling will not speed up your file, and it will contact you if it needs more information. IRCC updates the page weekly, so check it again before you plan a flight, and treat every estimate as a guide, not a date to build your plans around.

What causes delays

IRCC names several causes, and some are in your hands. Many are not, so plan your timeline with extra room. A PAL is limited by the study permit cap, because each province and territory has a set number of study spaces, so ask your school early about yours.

• Missing documents. IRCC says an incomplete application will not be finalized.
• Biometrics given late. Processing waits for them.
• Extra requests for information, an interview, a medical exam or a police certificate.
• Complex cases and security checks, which IRCC lists as reasons for longer times.
• A PAL that is not valid when you apply. It must be valid on that day, and it cannot be reused after an application is approved or refused.
• Paper applications sent by mail, which add mailing time.

If your application is refused

IRCC sends a letter with the reasons. Common ones it lists include an invalid letter of acceptance, not enough proof of funds, not passing a required medical exam, or the officer not being convinced that your main purpose is study and that you will leave Canada afterwards.

There is no formal appeal process. You can apply again, but IRCC advises doing so only if your situation has changed or you have new information that answers the reasons. Sending the same application again is unlikely to change the result. A new application also needs a new PAL if your old one was used. If you believe the decision was unreasonable or unfair, you can ask the Federal Court for judicial review. It has strict time limits, so read your letter for dates and speak to a licensed immigration lawyer before choosing this route.

What IGC counsellors check with you

IGC counsellors check that your file is complete before you submit, that your biometrics booking is not forgotten, and that your timeline fits your intake. If a refusal happens, we read the reasons with you and tell you honestly whether a new application is likely to be different. We cannot promise a visa. Figures and rules change, so confirm everything on the official pages.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Canada study permit take for Bangladeshi applicants?

It changes, so we do not quote a number. Use IRCC's processing times tool, enter the date you applied, and read the estimate as a guide only. It is not a maximum, and some files take longer.

Can I give biometrics somewhere other than Dhaka?

IRCC lists visa application centres in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet for Bangladesh. You must book an appointment. Follow your biometrics letter and book through the Bangladesh centre page linked from IRCC.

Will calling IRCC make my application faster?

No. IRCC says calling will not speed up processing, and that it will contact you if it needs more information. Check your online account instead, and respond quickly if IRCC asks for something.

Can I appeal a study permit refusal?

IRCC says there is no formal appeal process for temporary residence decisions. You may apply again with new information, or ask the Federal Court for judicial review. Speak to a licensed lawyer about time limits.

If you want help planning your application timeline, book a free profile assessment with IGC. A counsellor will explain each step and what to prepare first.